November 06, 2018 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis wishes to inform citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis of changes to the visa application process that have been announced by the government of Canada.

In a statement released on Friday November 02, 2018, the government of Canada informed that it “is expanding its biometrics collection programme and is now taking steps to prepare for 31 December 31, 2018, when nationals from countries in Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas will need to give their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) when applying for a visitor visa, study, or work permit, or for permanent residence.”

To make service accessible to applicants, Canada is expanding its worldwide network of Visa Application Centres (VACs). As of November 02, 2018, citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis will be able to submit their applications to the Visa Application Centres in Barbados, Trinidad or Guyana.

Citizens will also be able to go to any VAC in any country they are legally allowed to enter, or, if already legally in the United States, to one of the 135 US Application Support Centres.

As the new biometrics collection programme is expanded, the Government of Canada has indicated that it will monitor the impact of biometrics collection to ensure that the level of service meets the needs of applicants.

The High Commission of St. Kitts and Nevis has been working closely with the Canadian authorities on behalf of the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, to ensure that our nationals benefit from travel facilitation and accessibility options as these new measures go into effect.

Citizens currently applying for Canadian visas will not be required to provide biometrics at this time.